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	~~{{Badges\|featured\|spoiled=''[[Shadows of Gallowspire]]''}}~~
	{{Organization		{{Organization
	\| image = File:Whispering Way follower.jpg		\| image = File:Whispering Way follower.jpg

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Errius : Page créée avec « {{Badges|featured|spoiled=''Shadows of Gallowspire''}} {{Organization | image = File:Whispering Way follower.jpg | name = Whispering Way | traits = | type = Philosophical | leader = None currently | alignment = Neutral evil | headquarters = Gallowspire & Ghasterhall, Virlych, Ustalav | goals = Pursuit of personal power, promotion of undeath | scope = Global | structure = Secret | memb... »

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Page créée avec « {{Badges|featured|spoiled=''Shadows of Gallowspire''}} {{Organization | image = File:Whispering Way follower.jpg | name = Whispering Way | traits = | type = Philosophical | leader = None currently | alignment = Neutral evil | headquarters = Gallowspire & Ghasterhall, Virlych, Ustalav | goals = Pursuit of personal power, promotion of undeath | scope = Global | structure = Secret | memb... »

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{{Badges|featured|spoiled=''[[Shadows of Gallowspire]]''}}
{{Organization
| image = File:Whispering Way follower.jpg
| name = Whispering Way
| traits =
| type = Philosophical
| leader = None currently
| alignment = [[Neutral evil]]
| headquarters = [[Gallowspire]] & [[Ghasterhall]], [[Virlych]], [[Ustalav]]
| goals = Pursuit of personal power, promotion of undeath
| scope = Global
| structure = Secret
| members = Cultists, [[necromancer]]s, [[undead]]
| imagesof = Whispering Way
| source = [[The Inner Sea World Guide]]
| page = 237
}}

The '''Whispering Way''' is a cruel and secret organization and [[philosophy]] promoting [[undead|undeath]] that has been active for thousands of years. The tenets are whispered one to another and never written down.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref> The symbol of the Whispering Way is a gagged skull.<ref>The Haunting of Harrowstone|16</ref>

== History ==

The Whispering Way is one of the oldest active organizations on [[Golarion]], its origins stretching back to the [[Age of Darkness]]. Because of the organization's dependence on oral tradition, much of its early history is either lost or forgotten.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

In the organization's nearly 10,000 year history, it has been credited with introducing several types of undead to Golarion. The primordial ancestors of all modern [[vampire]]s—known as [[strigoi]]—are said to have first entered the [[Universe]] through a portal from the [[Netherworld]] opened by the Whispering Way.<ref>Blood of the Night|4</ref> Agents of the Whispering Way may also be responsible for the creation of the first [[fext]]s on Golarion.<ref>Rasputin Must Die!|88</ref>

In [[3203 AR]], the organization's most powerful member, [[Tar-Baphon]], rose from the dead as a [[lich]] and initiated the Whispering Way's golden age. Styling himself as the Whispering Tyrant, Tar-Baphon began for the first time to make the organization's vision of an undead utopia into a reality.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|190|191</ref> He easily conquered [[Ustalav]] and the [[Hold of Belkzen]] and then began invading the neighboring countries in the hopes of attracting the attention of the [[god]], [[Aroden]]. The Whispering Tyrant believed that [[human]]ity's rise during the [[Age of Enthronement]] was linked to the god, and that by defeating him in battle, Tar-Baphon could not only bring an end to all humans, but drive a stake into the living heart of [[Golarion]] itself.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref>

His plan did not work. A collection of mortal states and peoples initiated the [[Shining Crusade]] and the defeated the Whispering Tyrant in [[3827 AR]];<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|36</ref> Aroden's attention remained focused elsewhere. The lich-king was imprisoned under his fortress of [[Gallowspire]], and his armies were crushed in battle.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref> Since this time, the Whispering Way has slowly rebuilt itself. Some members continue to accumulate personal power while others search for ways to free Tar-Baphon from his prison at Gallowspire.<ref>The Haunting of Harrowstone|16</ref>

The death of Aroden in [[4606 AR]] caused members of the Whispering Way to wonder if the Whispering Tyrant had somehow succeeded in defeating his old foe after all. They finally decided that it really didn't matter who killed the god of humanity, and that Tar-Baphon's prediction had been accomplished and began preparing for the final death of the planet.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref>

Several years ago, the Whispering Way was dealt a severe blow after their failure to anoint [[Lucinean Galdana]], Tar-Baphon's descendant, with an elixir that would allow for the Tyrant's return.<ref>The Dead Roads|78</ref>

== Tenets and dogma ==

The central message of the Whispering Way is that undeath is the truest form of existence. The undead know no pain or fear, and so have nothing to distract them from their pursuit of power. Living creatures are seen as pitiful, pointless beings too weak or stupid to escape the cycle of life and death. Unsurprisingly, the organization is heavily involved with [[necromancy]].<ref>Faction Guide|52</ref>

The Whispering Way is a secret that is not, and cannot, be written down or otherwise recorded. Instead, it can only be passed down from person to person, and achieved through effort and machination.<ref>Faiths of Corruption|23</ref> Each adherent holds a piece of this secret, and by networking amongst themselves and sharing their discoveries, they gain ever greater power over life and death. This is perhaps the only reason adherents ever work together in their competing quests for power.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

At its most basic level, the secret of the Whispering Way is a formula for becoming a lich, and of all paths to undeath, lichdom is understood as the noblest. Liches are among the most powerful undead, and they are perhaps the only undead that are created solely by means of their own power, owing their existence to no other being. Most living members of the Whispering Way remain so in the hopes that they will one day have the means to embrace lichdom.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref><ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref>

The goal of the Whispering Way is not merely the transformation of its members into undead, however. All life is anathema to the Way, and few of its adherents are content with the idea of an eternity surrounded by the chaos of living things. The ultimate vision of the Whispering Way is a dead world,<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref> often bringing them into conflict with many undead who do not want the Whispering Way to succeed, since they rely on the living as a food source.<ref>Book of the Dead|181</ref>

Though members of the Whispering Way may revere gods or demon lords of undeath, such as [[Kabriri]], [[Orcus]], [[Urgathoa]], or [[Zura]],<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|237</ref> the philosophy itself respects no deity.<ref>Faiths & Philosophies|27</ref>

== Structure ==

The Whispering Way has no formal structure. Instead, its members organize based on type of undeath, lines of philosophical inquiry, or religious affiliation. In some cases, these factions share research and work in concert, almost like departments in a university.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

=== Leadership ===

Technically, the organization does not have a leader. However, members of exceptional age, wealth, mastery of lore, or magical power typically gain the deference of their peers.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref> Its most influential member was once [[Lucimar]], known as the Lich-Wolf, until he was supplanted by [[Adivion Adrissant]].<ref>Faction Guide|52</ref><ref>Shadows of Gallowspire|29</ref> After Adivion's defeat, the Whispering Way became even less coherent and more prone to infighting; currently, most of them take their orders from the Tyrant's highest-ranking servants like [[Jomah Gildais]], [[Geir]] and [[Malyas]].<ref>The Dead Roads|78</ref>

=== Members ===
[[File:Zaashakar.jpg|150px|right|thumb|[[Zaashakar]], a [[ghoul]] [[witch]] and agent of the Whispering Way.]]
{{See also|Category:Whispering Way/Members}}

The Whispering Way's membership is composed primarily of necromancers and intelligent undead.<ref>The Haunting of Harrowstone|16</ref><ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref> Membership in the Whispering Way is lifelong—its practices taint the [[soul]] such that those who defect rarely make it a year before crumbling to ash.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref><ref>Faction Guide|52</ref> Many members communicate in the [[Necril]] tongue, a language primarily used by [[ghoul]]s.<ref>The Inner Sea World Guide|251</ref>

Most adherents maintain a public face, typically occupying positions of authority in centers of arcane learning where they are able to gather magical lore and identify potential initiates. These members corrupt talented individuals with whispered promises of power and eternal existence.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

Ancient undead lords known as lore keepers collectively safeguard much of the Whispering Way's accumulated knowledge, each keeper having memorized a single aspect of the organization's lore.<ref>Faction Guide|52</ref> The lore keepers serve as animate libraries, gathering eldritch lore from fellow adherents and dispensing it to the rest.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

The organization's most infamous member is Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant. Many members continue to regard the Whispering Tyrant as their champion, and many are drawn to the Way by the legends of Tar-Baphon's mythic power.<ref>Faiths of Corruption|23</ref>

Despite the Whispering Way's promotion of undeath, not all undead support the organization. Undead who depend on living prey, such as vampires and ghouls, may object to the Whispering Way's vision of a utopia devoid of life. This rift famously led the vampire lord [[Luvick Siervage]] to forsake the Whispering Tyrant near the close of the [[Shining Crusade]].<ref>Ashes at Dawn|7</ref><ref>Ashes at Dawn|71</ref>

== Activities ==

The scope of the Whispering Way's activities is global, but their operations center on a handful of locations.

=== Ustalav ===

Powerful members of the Whispering Way make frequent claims that the cursed land of [[Virlych]] in western [[Ustalav]] is their sovereign territory, though none outside the organization recognize it as such.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref> Nonetheless, members of the Whispering Way make frequent pilgrimages to this land. These pilgrims usually travel to [[Gallowspire]], Tar-Baphon's prison and the spiritual center of the Whispering Way, though they frequently also stop at [[Ghasterhall]] to pay their respects to Lucimar.<ref>Faction Guide|52</ref>

=== Geb ===

The dead nation of [[Geb]] is perhaps the only place on Golarion where members of the Whispering Way operate openly. The organization's Gebbite agents often work side by side with the church of [[Urgathoa]], and their activities are far more academic than elsewhere in the world.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

=== Varisia ===

Necromancers practice their art openly in the [[Ankar-Te]] district of [[Kaer Maga]] in [[Varisia]], where zombies—"Twice-Born" as the locals call them—are used as servants and laborers. Many of these are members of the Whispering Way, using the organization's lore to craft zombies of unparalleled quality.<ref>Broken Moon|64|68</ref>

== References ==

[[Paizo Inc.|Paizo]] published a major article about the Whispering Way in ''[[Broken Moon]]''.

{{Refs}}

{{Philosophies navbox}}
{{Pathfinder Society navbox|rivals}}

[[Category:Whispering Way| ]]
[[Category:Tar-Baphon/Organizations]]
[[Category:Virlych/Organizations]]
[[Category:Ustalav/Organizations]]
[[Category:Philosophies]]
[[Category:Neutral evil organizations]]
[[Category:Cults]]

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Errius : Errius a déplacé la page Whispering Way vers Voie du Murmure

Errius le 26 juillet 2026 à 13:10

Errius le 26 juillet 2026 à 13:10

Errius : Errius a déplacé la page Whispering Way vers Voie du Murmure